Cam-actuated double-throw switch



Oct. 4, 1932. w. SCHAELCHLIN CAM ACTUATED DOUBLE THROW SWITCH Filed Aug.25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'ATTORNEY 1932- I w. SCHAELCHLIN 1,880,498

. CAM ACTUATED DOUBLE THROW SWITCH Filed Aug. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATT'ORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWALTER SCHAELCHLIN, OF WILKINSBURG, IENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING-HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IACAM-ACTUATED DOUBLE-THROW SWITCH Application filed August 23, 1930.Serial No. 477,337.

My invention relates to control apparatus and more particularly tocam-actuated switches or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a switch of the cam-actuatedtype in which there are no sliding contact members.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch having a movablecontact member actuated through a resilient member.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for locking themovable contact of a switch in either of its closed or its openpositions.

A more specific object of my invention is 75 to provide'a switch fortransferring an elec- Ed a trical connection from one circuit to anotherwhich is comparatively simple in construction, efiective in operation,and economical of manufacture.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of

a cam-actuated double-throw switch in its tact 2, connected by aflexible shunt 3 to a support member 4 and held therein by rivets 5. Themovable contact 2 is pivotally supported by a pin 6 in contact supports7 which are pivotally supported by a pin 8 in support member 1. Ears 9and bosses 10 are provided on the contact-support arms for receivingsprings 11. v

A work arm 12 is pivotally mounted on support'member4 by pin 8 and haslugs 18 and bosses 14. thereon for. engaging springs cam-support member18 for cooperating with 11. Rollers 15 are provided in bifurcatedprojections on the work arm 12 and are supported by pins 16.

Afcam 17 is pivotally supported on the the rollers 15 on the work arm.Projectlons 19 and recesses 20 are provided on the cam to obtain thedesired motion of the rollers. A handle 21 for actuating the cam is alsoprovided as an integral part thereof.

The stationary contacts 1 and the support member 4 are located 011 thebars 22 and are insulated therefrom by rectangular insulating tubes 23.To connect the stationary contacts 1 and the support member 4 to theirrespective circuits, bus bars 24 are provided.

The operation of the above described apparatus may be set forth asfollows:

The cam 17 is turned in a clockwise direction by handle 21. The work arm12 is caused to rotate also in a clockwise direction by the projection19 on the cam 17 The movement of the work arm compresses the springs 11on the righthand side of the lugs 18 on the Work arm. Compression of thesprings 11 rotates the contact support arms 7 in a clockwise direction,thereby causing movable contact 2 to engage the right-hand fixedcontact 1. Further motion of the movable contact-support arms isprevented. further compresses the springs 11 until the lower roller 15is positioned in the lower recess 20, thus obtaining the desired contactpressure. It is readily seen that the movablecontact 2 is locked in thisclosed position because of the position of the roller 15 on the cam 17,and cannot be opened unless the cam 17 is turned.

The switch is opened by reversing the above procedure. The cam 17 isturned in a counter-clockwise direction by the handle 21.

Provision for locking the movable member of the switch in the openposition is made by so shaping the cam that the operation of the movablemember is irreversible.

Contact with the left-hand stationary contact is made by moving the cam17 in a counter-clockwise direction until the upper roller 15 ispositioned in the upper recess 20 in the cam 17.

The switch from this position is opened by turning the cam 17 in aclockwise direction.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of myinvention,

The Work arm 12 L- resiliently connected thereto and means for shiftingthe movable contact member. to-a plurality of operating positions.

2. A switch comprising a plurality of sta tionary contact members, acooperative movable contact member, said movable contact member beingpivotally supported by pivotally mounted contact-supportarms, a work armresiliently connected thereto and means for shifting the movable contactmember to a plurality of operating positions.

3. A switch comprising a plurality of stationary contact members, acooperative movi able contact member, said movable contact member beingsupported by pivotally mounted contact-support arms, a work armresiliently connected thereto, means for shifting the movablecontact-member to plural ity' of operating positions. and means forlocking saidmovable contact member in any operating position. v

4. A switch comprising a plurality of stationary contact members, acooperative movable-contact member, said movable'contact member beingpivotally supported by pivotally mounted contact-support arms a work armresilientlyconnected thereto, means for shifting the movable contactmember toa plurality'of operating positions and means stationary contactmembers, a cooperative movable contact pivotally supported on; con-vconnectedby a shunt,awork arm resiliently forlocking said movablecontact member in any operating position.

5. "A switch compr singa pluralityofstationary contacts, a cooperativemovable contact pivotally supported on contact-support arms, saidcontact-supportarms being pi'votally supported on a support member, saidmovable contact and support member being shifting the movable contactto-any operat ing position, and means for locking th e'inovable contactin any operating position 6. A switch comprising two independenttact-support arms, said support arms being pivotally mounted on asupport member, said support member and movable contact being connectedto said contact-support arms, said work arm havingrollers supported bypins. in bifurcated. projections thereon, a cam cooperating with'saidrollers to actuate the work arm, thereby moving the contact supsupportedvby pivotally: mounted contact-support arms, a work arm.

portmember, said. supportarms having projecting ears and bosses thereonfor the mount- .ing. of springs,.meansprovided, through a cam action, toactuate said springs, thereby moving the contact-support arms andcontact to any operatingposition and means for locking themin anyoperatingpositi'on.

8. A switch comprising two stationary contacts, a cooperativemovablejcontact connected by a flexible shunt to. a support memberofhigh conductivity, twocontact-support arms pivotally supporting said.movable contact and pivotallyfsupported on saidsuppor-t mem.- her by apin, said contact-support armshavingprojecting ears and bosses. thereonto receive springs for actuating them, a work arm,

havingprojecting lugs and bosses to actuate said springs and pivotallymounted on=the said support I member by; the I aforesaid pin,

said work lar being alsoi shaped to receive two rollers in'bifurcatedprojections thereon.

means for movingsaid work arm andthereby actuating the saidjmovingcontact toany;op,-,

crating position and means for locking said ed by a flexibleshunt to asupport member of high 'conductivity, twgo contact-support armspivotally supporting said movable con-.. tact and piyotally supportedonsaidlsupport m rby. a p n, s idfc ntact-supp t ms.-.

having projecting ears-and bosses to' receiv springs for actuating-them,a work arm havs glp ie t ngh gs a dh se t i ctuate said springs andbeing pivotallymounted on the .Said s pp r em r by.. e s idm asaidconnected by a shunt, a work arm resiliently '1 connected to-sa dcontact arms, means for k em! 189 s aped t r i e o r l er in bifurcatedprojections thereon,,a cam co.-

being of such shape as to'cause motion of said rk a t c mp ess aid spr gth eby moving the' said contact-support arms and. m le ntact c r ie h rby t eitheri the two closed positions or to fopeni posi tionand also of,such shapeas to locksaid movable contact in eitherof thejfclosedositions or in the open position, said cam being I also formed toprovirlea handle for actuating the switch. a I

10. Ina switch comprising, in combination, a i qe i g contact. em e aaim va le c nt member d spos d. to e gag th r e n contact member, a workarm for actuating the movable contact member into and out of engagementwith the receiving contact member, a resilient member interposed betweenthe work arm and the movable contact member, and a cam for positivelyactuating the contact member to its different positions.

11. In a switch comprising, in combination, a receiving contact member,a movable con tact member disposed to engage the receiving contactmember, a contact support arm for supporting the movable contact member,a work arm for actuating the movable contact member into and out ofengagement with the receiving contact member, a support member forpivotally supporting the work arm, rollers mounted on the work arm, acam disposed to cooperate with the rollers for positively actuating themovable contact member to its different positions, a resilient memberinterposed between the work arm and the movable contact member toprovide suitable contact pressure, and a shunt for connecting themovable contact member to the support member.

12. In a switch comprising, in combination, a receiving contact member,a movable contact member disposed to engage the receiving contactmember, contact support arms for supporting the movable contact member,a work arm for actuating the movable contact member into and out ofengagement with the receiving contact member, a support member forpivotally supporting the work arm, a plurality of rollers mounted on thework arm, a cam disposed to cooperate with the rollers for positivelyactuating the movable contact member to its difierent positions and ofsuch shape as to lock the movable contact member in any operatingposition, a resilient member interposed between the work arm and themovable contact member to provide suitable contact pressure, and aflexible shunt for connecting the movable contact member to the supportmember.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st dayof August,

1930. WALTER SCHAELCHLIN.

tin

